The countries of the UK have a duty to the rest of the world to behave responsibly whatever the result of this week’s referendum on Scottish independence, according to the National Assembly’s Deputy Presiding Officer David Melding.

“And we need to be aware of the fact that the world will be watching us, and will expect what has to date been one of the most successful democratic states to negotiate these difficulties with great determination to make a new structure stable and ensure it would work.

“There would be challenges in an independent Scotland initially. Probably the prospects in the medium and longer term are stronger. You could say the same for the rest of the UK – challenges will come very early, as that entity will obviously be more fragile than the current Union.

“But I think with open and generous hearts we could construct an effective and stable state. But it will require great flexibility and purpose.”

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Mr Melding was speaking during a live debate held on a WalesOnline Google Hangout. You can see our guests' predictions for the result above or watch the debate in full here.

He was joined by Plaid Cymru AM Rhun ap Iorwerth, Vaughan Gething, the Labour AM for Cardiff South and Penarth, Welsh Liberal Democrat AM Eluned Parrott and Lleu Williams of the Wales Governance Centre.

Also taking part were our chief reporter Martin Shipton, political editor David Williamson and Senedd correspondent Graham Henry.

Mr Melding added: “Presumably Wales would be somewhat more autonomous than it would be otherwise, or at least more quickly than it would be, if it were in a state with England and Northern Ireland, to balance the influence of England a bit.

“I think when we talk about how the Scotland vote will affect the rest of the UK, we should also think about how it’s going to affect the rest of the world, because if a liberal multinational state cannot survive in Britain, you do ask yourselves where on earth it will survive.

“So at the very least, we should construct a new post-Union framework that is as effective as possible. And I think that will require England to be very generous to Wales and Northern Ireland.”

Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething said: “There are always risks in the future, but it goes back to what sort of future do you want, whether a Union without Scotland or a Union with Scotland.

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“We need to have a sensible and mature conversation. If we’re going to talk about needs-based funding, I think we’ve got a lot to gain by engaging with English regions, whether that conversation is with a Union with or without Scotland.

“I think we’ll find lots of allies in lots of parts of England. As someone who lived in England for a long time, I disagree [with other panel members who say] there isn’t an appetite for regional devolution in England. I think it’s developing.”

Plaid Cymru AM Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “What I see with a Yes vote is for a kind of political awakening to happen in Wales that’s happened in Scotland.

“We’ve got to talk in practical terms. There will be huge pressure on us in Wales to put the Welsh case, and there will be a huge amount of pressure then on the UK Parliament or the rest of the UK, depending which way it goes, to prove to us in Wales that we are indeed ‘better together’ with the rest of the UK.”

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM Eluned Parrott said: “I think whatever subject you’re looking at a mixture of opportunities and threats. In terms of opportunities, we’ve had the opportunity to talk about new ways of re-imagining the Union.

“That is an opportunity I think we should make the most of in the future. However, the threat is very much that whichever way the vote goes there will be potentially some unreconstructed unionist politicians who might say this is the danger of devolution and we must put a brake on it.

“So we’ve got to be very careful in Wales that we speak with a clear voice and put forward a very cohesive argument for what the future for Wales should look like within the Union as it stands or as it becomes after a Yes vote.”